Ruqayyah Snyder
Cairns is a city in Queensland, Australia, on the tropical north-east coast of Far North Queensland. It is a major commercial centre for the region and a base for various government departments. The city has a population of over 150,000 people and is the country's 14th most populous city. The Cairns Regional Council local government area covers 1,687 square kilometres of land, with the city itself centrally located along the coastal strip. The region is renowned for its natural beauty, including the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics rainforest, which attract over two million visitors annually.
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What You'll Learn
Population: 153,181 in 2021
Cairns, Australia, is a city in Queensland on the tropical northeast coast of Far North Queensland. It is considered the gateway to Australia's Great Barrier Reef. In the 2021 census, Cairns had a population of 153,181 people. The population has been steadily growing over the years, with an average annual growth rate of 1.06% over the last 13 years. The population growth is attributed to the consistently strong tourism industry, which has created numerous job opportunities in the city. Cairns is also a desirable place to live due to its relaxed lifestyle, attracting many retirees.
The religious makeup of Cairns is diverse, with the most common responses in the census being "No Religion" (25.7%), Catholic (19.7%) to 21.7%, "Not stated" (10.1%) to 19.7%, Anglican (9.8%) to 13%, and other Christian denominations (2.8%) to 3.1%. The median age of the population in Cairns is 39 years old. The most common occupations for those living in Cairns are professionals (20.9%), managers (19.6%), sales workers (12%), community and service workers (11%), and clerical or administrative workers (11%). The main industries in Cairns are accommodation and food services (20.7%), retail trade (11.6%), healthcare and social assistance (10.3%), and transport, postal, and warehousing (6.4%).
The population density of Cairns is 581 people per square kilometer, making it the fifth most populated city in Queensland after Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, and Townsville. The top countries of birth for people in Cairns, other than Australia, include England, New Zealand, Japan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, India, Korea, and Papua New Guinea. Cairns has a large Papua New Guinean community, with approximately 10,000 Papua New Guineans living in the city, the largest population outside of Papua New Guinea itself.
The city of Cairns was founded in 1876 and named after Sir William Wellington Cairns, following the discovery of gold in the Hodgkinson River. The town was initially created to serve the miners heading to the goldfields, but it later developed into a major port for exporting gold, agricultural products, and other metals. Cairns has grown significantly over the years, and by the early 21st century, it had become a major regional city with a diverse economy based on tourism, healthcare, education, aviation, marine, and defence industries.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: 9.7%
Cairns, Australia, is a city in the Cairns Region of Queensland, on the tropical north-east coast of Far North Queensland. It is a major commercial centre for the region and is known for its agriculture, tourism, healthcare, and education industries. The city has a population of 153,181 people, according to the 2021 census.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people made up 9.7% of the population of Cairns in 2021. This amounts to approximately 14,855 people. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are two distinct cultural groups, with a rich array of diverse practices, beliefs, and customs. There are over 250 different language groups spread across Australia, with many groups actively researching, reviving, and teaching their traditional languages to younger generations.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a long history in Cairns, with the area being inhabited by the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people prior to British settlement. The Gimuy-walubarra clan continue to claim their native title rights to the area. The region is also known as Gimuy in the local Yidiny language.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority acknowledges the continuing Sea Country management and custodianship of the Great Barrier Reef by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Traditional Owners. The Indigenous groups have been linked with the Reef since time immemorial, with cultural knowledge of practices and sites from before the Reef formed over 7,000 years ago. Despite historical events of dispossession and displacement, many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people maintain a strong connection to their land and Sea Country.
Cairns is known for its Indigenous tourism encounters, with visitors able to explore the region's ancient landscapes and the stories of the Traditional Custodians. The city also offers the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair, showcasing new artworks, traditional performances, and the rich history of the world's oldest living culture.
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Languages: English, Japanese, Nepali, Mandarin, Punjabi
Cairns, Australia, is a city in Queensland on the country's tropical northeast coast. The city is the major commercial centre for Far North Queensland and the Cape York Peninsula Regions. It is also a popular tourist destination, known for its proximity to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites: the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforest.
The Cairns Regional Council local government area covers 1,687 square kilometres of land on a narrow coastal strip between the Great Dividing Range and the Coral Sea. The region includes a number of offshore islands, such as Fitzroy, Green, and the Frankland Islands. The city of Cairns is centrally located along this coastal strip.
Cairns has a population of approximately 153,000 people, according to the 2021 census. The city has a diverse population, with 68.2% born in Australia and significant communities from England, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and India. The region also has a large number of people of Melanesian origin, including a large Papua New Guinean community of approximately 10,000 people.
In addition to English, several other languages are spoken in Cairns, reflecting its diverse population. According to the 2021 census, 14.1% of residents spoke a language other than English at home. The most common non-English languages spoken in Cairns are Japanese (1.5%), Nepali (0.7%), Mandarin (0.7%), Punjabi (0.6%), and Creole languages (0.6%). The presence of these languages reflects the diverse cultural backgrounds of the city's residents, including those with origins in Japan, Nepal, China, India, and Melanesia.
The city also has a historical connection to Chinese culture and language due to the early Chinese immigrants who played a significant role in the region's agricultural industry. Organisations such as the Cairns & District Chinese Association work to preserve this cultural heritage. Furthermore, the traditional language of the region's original inhabitants, the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people, is Yidinji (also known as Yidiny). This Aboriginal language continues to be a part of the region's cultural identity.
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Religion: No Religion, Catholic, Anglican
Cairns, Australia, is a city in Far North Queensland, on the country's tropical northeast coast. It has a population of 153,181 as of the 2021 census. The city was founded in 1876 and named after Sir William Wellington Cairns.
In terms of religion, the 2021 census found that 41.9% of Cairns' residents identified as having "No Religion". This is a significant portion of the population, reflecting a broader trend in Australia towards secularism or non-religious identification.
Catholics make up 19.7% of the population of Cairns. The Catholic Diocese of Cairns has a website where people can search for Mass times, learn about Catholic schools and other education services, and find information about getting married in the Catholic Church. There is also a Youth Ministry page that provides details about youth festivals, groups, and social events.
Anglicans comprise 9.8% of the population. There are several Anglican churches in Cairns, including St. Margaret of Scotland, St. John The Evangelist, and St. Peter's. These churches provide contact details and websites for those seeking further information or wishing to attend services.
While Cairns represents a diverse range of Christian denominations, there do not appear to be any mosques, temples, or synagogues in the city.
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Economy: tourism, healthcare, education, aviation, marine, defence
The economy of Cairns, Australia, is diverse, with a Gross Regional Product (GRP) of around $11.4 billion as of 2023. The city's economy is primarily based on tourism, healthcare, and education, with significant contributions from the aviation, marine, and defence industries.
Tourism
Tourism is a key industry in Cairns and a major contributor to the Australian economy. The region is the fourth most popular destination for international tourists in Australia, after Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The city attracts a significant number of Australian holidaymakers and has seen a growing interest from the Chinese leisure market, with regular direct flights from Chinese cities. In 2022/23, the total tourism sales in Cairns were $3708.8 million, with a total value added of $1807.2 million.
Healthcare
Healthcare and social assistance are the largest industry in Cairns in terms of employment and economic contribution, accounting for 13% of the city's economy. The development of the FNQ Health and Innovation Precinct reflects the importance of this sector to the region.
Education
Cairns is home to several educational institutions, including James Cook University, CQUniversity, TAFE Queensland, and the Great Barrier Reef International Marine College. The city also has a Cairns Aviation Skills Centre, reflecting the importance of aviation to the region.
Aviation
Cairns International Airport is the seventh busiest airport in Australia. The airport's investment in its Eastern Precinct demonstrates the confidence in the aviation industry in Cairns. Companies such as Jet Aviation, Skytek, Skytrans, and Nautilus Aviation have a presence in the city, contributing to the aviation sector.
Marine
The marine industry is of major economic importance to Cairns and Far North Queensland. The Queensland Government has invested in the Cairns Marine Precinct, including the construction of new wharves to expand the capacity for vessel maintenance. The growth of this sector is key to the diversification of the region and is expected to generate benefits for the defence and manufacturing industries.
Defence
The defence industry in Cairns is closely linked to the marine industry. The Royal Australian Navy's maintenance and sustainment opportunities influence the development of the Cairns Marine Precinct. The construction of new wharves will expand the capacity to carry out in-water maintenance on vessels used by the Australian Defence Force. The proposal for a new marine common user facility aims to capture more large defence contracts.
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Frequently asked questions
The population of Cairns, Australia was 153,181 in the 2021 census. The population of the Cairns urban area is over 160,000, with two-thirds of Tropical North Queensland's population residing in the region.
The population density of Cairns is 581 people per square kilometre.
The median age of the population in Cairns is 39 years.
The Cairns Regional Council local government area covers 1,687 square kilometres of land.
The main industries in Cairns are accommodation and food services, retail, healthcare and social assistance, transport, public administration, and tourism. Cairns is a popular tourist destination, attracting over two million visitors annually.
